South African security forces have begun enforcing a three-week nationwide lockdown in an effort to stem the spread of the coronavirus.
All but essential movement is forbidden and both the army and the police are enforcing the measures.
Ahead of the midnight deadline there were long queues outside supermarkets as people stocked up on essentials.
South Africa has reported 927 coronavirus infections – the highest in Africa – but so far no deaths.
Late on Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa visited soldiers before they were deployed from a base in the Soweto township of Johannesburg. (Text courtesy BBC)